"Do you want to know what my life was like in a world without you?"
Queen Windsor asked, her gaze eting Jenkins's in the mirror once more. When he remained silent, she chuckled softly and continued on her own.
"My life was quite tragic, you see. Queen Isabella killed my parents and raised as her successor. Without you, for reasons unknown, the great entity beneath Nolan awakened far too soon, bringing the cataclysm with it. Last autumn, Queen Isabella died a horrible death during an uprising of Cursed Items. That incident gave a clue, which led to a eting with the 'Great Wisdom' under Nolan. And then... I died."
Jenkins continued to draw the ivory comb through her hair, feeling her body heat and vitality. Queen Windsor was undoubtedly alive, at least for the mont. But her words made him notice sothing strange, an irregularity in her heartbeat.
"'Great Wisdom' found useful, so it resurrected using a corrupted Bestowal called the 'chanical Heart.' It never imagined, however, that I was the only one who knew this world's secrets. In the end, it was I who used the chanical Heart to place so limitations on it. After returning to the surface, I inherited the throne and beca queen, but I've been tornted by the pain in my heart every day and night since..."
She reached up, pressing a hand to her left breast. Though Jenkins stood behind her, his height gave him a clear view over her shoulder.
"All of this cos from my mories. So, while I have a complete recollection and all the accompanying emotions, from a practical standpoint, these events are as unreal as a story's backstory. How do you suppose I feel about that?"
"Are you in pain?"
Jenkins asked, genuinely unsure of what else to say.
Queen Windsor rubbed the front of her chest.
"It still aches, even now. Pain? Yes, I have every reason to be in pain. Whether in this current reality or just in my mories, my spirit and my body have both suffered terrible blows. Of course I'm in pain."
"So, in this fleeting 'reality,' you kidnapped my friends to get here. Are you hoping I'll take you back to the real world?"
For the first ti since their conversation began, Queen Windsor didn't reply imdiately. She continued to watch him in the mirror, her eyes holding an expression that unsettled him.
It wasn't a fierce look, but one of condemnation, as if she were staring at a faithless lover. He quickly replayed their conversation in his mind but couldn't recall saying anything amiss.
"You will take with you. It won't be because I ask. You will be the one to invite ."
"Why?"
"Because the Dark Soul needs to awaken."
She spoke of sothing Jenkins had never told a soul.
"I don't know your relationship with the real Jessica Windsor. Are you husband and wife? Lovers? Perhaps you've never even t. But as long as she exists, she is destined to be the host of the Dark Soul. That is my fate. For the Dark Soul to awaken, its host must, in a mont of utter agony, fuel the King Soul with her own malice and dark thoughts, igniting its black fla. But the Windsor you know could never do that. And you would never allow her to suffer so."
"And you know what kind of man I am?"
"Of course not. My mories only told that you were missing from this world, not what kind of person you were. But I imagine you must be a good man. Otherwise, you wouldn't be combing my hair right now—you'd be choking the life out of ."
Jenkins wouldn't have called himself a good man, but he had to agree with her logic.
"What does taking you with have to do with the Dark Soul?"
"Since you can't bear to watch your Windsor suffer unimaginable pain, the Dark Soul can't be awakened using her dark thoughts as fuel. But there's another way. A way no one has ever considered."
"What way?"
"Fusing multiple Dark Souls can also make the black flas roar to life. That way, the host only needs to provide a sliver of malice, and the King Soul can be fully forged. And as it happens, I believe my malice is more than sufficient. The real Windsor won't have to suffer my fate."
Jenkins paused his combing once more. The idea sounded... plausible.
"I've never tried it, of course—I could hardly find a second Dark Soul. But it's worth a shot, don't you think? Now, don't stop. Continue combing."
Queen Windsor urged.
"So you're saying I must take you with ?"
"Not 'must.' I won't force you; the choice is yours. But I should warn you, my coming with you isn't a given either. You need to do sothing for first."
"...You don't want to go to reality?"
"No, of course I do. But I'm not so helpless woman who needs to cling to a man. Consider this a partnership, not begging for your help. Do you understand?"
Her personality was identical to Miss Windsor's—independent and strong, a trait Jenkins deeply admired. He understood her perspective. To this queen, Jenkins Williams was a complete stranger, so it was only natural for her to test his resolve.
Otherwise, this sudden familiarity would have been far too strange.
"What is it?"
"So you've accepted that I'm coming with you?"
Jenkins didn't answer. Queen Windsor smiled and leaned back slightly, her body resting against his, making it impossible for him to continue combing her hair.
"That's a lovely silver bracelet."
Queen Windsor added when Jenkins still said nothing. The bracelet was an artifact for temporarily containing divinity, and he couldn't tell if her comnt was intentional or just a casual observation.
"I consider myself a rational man. Logically speaking, taking you with is an excellent idea."
Emotionally, he felt the sa way. But first, he needed to confirm that Miss Windsor and Magic Miss were unhard. He also needed to be certain the woman leaning against him wasn't being ntally controlled by the Difference Engine.
"It's not just because of the Dark Soul. I believe what you know about the Difference Engine would also be valuable to ."
He added.
"I actually don't know that much."
"That's fine. Even a little information would be incredibly valuable."
"So, you're set on taking with you?"
Queen Windsor asked, then added:
"Don't worry about how. I've already figured out a way to leave. I can even promise that once we're in the real world, I'll follow your lead. We can even seal it with a soul contract to be sure."
"Let see my friends, and then tell , what do you need to do?"
"Your friends are in no danger. But before you see them, you need to do what I ask."
"Tell ."
Since she could genuinely help him, Jenkins felt no reluctance to do sothing for her in return. He respected a fair trade, especially when it seed he was getting the better end of the bargain.
"I need to be sure you won't abandon . I need to be sure I can always stay by your side. I need to be sure I won't be treated like trash and thrown away once I'm no longer of use to you."
"I'm not that kind of person... Very well. I suppose you don't know . How can I earn your trust? Do you need to complete so difficult quest? Or kill a powerful enemy for you?"
"No. Completing a quest would prove nothing, and killing an enemy would only prove you're powerful. I want you to promise ... that you will marry the real Jessica Windsor."
Jenkins felt he should feign surprise, but he wasn't surprised at all. He just smiled.
"Let's set aside the implications for a mont. You may not know this, but I am already engaged. That is a vow I will not break. Besides, if I were to break my previous vow for you, how could you possibly trust any promise I make now?"
He was already dangerously close to becoming a cad in matters of the heart; he couldn't afford another misstep.
"A fair point. In that case, I want Jessica Windsor to beco your mistress."
Her tone was flippant, as if she were discussing the weather.
"That's also impossible. I'm a man of integrity."
"Do you know Jessica Windsor?"
"I do."
"What is your relationship with her?"
"She's an important partner. A friend."
"Is that all?"
"Yes..."
He recalled his recent conversation with Miss Windsor, and his tone faltered.
"Jenkins, it seems your romantic life is quite complicated."
Queen Windsor scoffed, leaning against him again and tilting her head back to look up into his face. It was the first ti he had t 'Miss Windsor's' gaze from this angle, and he had to admit she was a beautiful woman.
"I know myself quite well, so I can guess what your story with her is like. That poor Windsor... she truly is unlucky."
Jenkins struggled to keep his expression neutral. Queen Windsor gave another small laugh, then straightened up, pulling away from him only to grab his hand and draw it toward her chest.
"What are you doing?"
"I'm helping you confirm that I am really , not 'Great Wisdom.' I'm sure you've been doubting it. I want you to touch my heart, to feel the 'chanical Heart' for yourself. Don't worry. As long as the heart itself remains intact, I won't be hard, even if your hand pierces right through my chest."
"You're insane."
Jenkins snapped, pulling his hand away with a cold snort.
"Such a gentle soul."
Jenkins ignored her, summoning the iron-gray book with a flick of his wrist.
"Oh?"
Queen Windsor murmured, watching in the mirror as Jenkins held the book in his left hand and placed his right upon her shoulder.
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